A Newsletter For NET Staff, Clients, and Friends In This Issue Distinguished Performance Honoring Our Employees 2 n Recovery Houses Open Hearts, Open Homes 3 n To Your Health! Our Wellness Initiatives 4 n Making My Way NET’s Independent Living Program 5 n Employee News & Notes 6 n CAPE, CARF, and a Riverside Update 7 n The Perfect Pitch The Recovery Recognition Banquet 8 NorthEast Treatment Centers 215.451.7000 www.net-centers.org Summer 2011 Above and Beyond: Making a Difference in Philadelphia’s Schools While much media attention has been paid to the challenges facing public education, NET’s School-Based Social Services program is having a positive impact and offering concrete solutions at more than two dozen Philadelphia public schools. “After we link up students to behavioral health services, i.e. outpatient, wraparound services, etc., they still have to succeed in the school setting. We have to have an impact on the whole environment, because if we don’t they’ll likely fall back into the same behaviors,” said Chris Waiters, SBSS Program Director. Waiters oversees eight Resource Specialists. “Of the 11 providers in the city, we have the most seasoned staff; some have been with our program since its inception in 1997-98. They are indeed very resourceful; they know how to navigate the systems,” said Waiters, who launched his professional career at NET six years ago. “This program has one of the most dedicated and skilled group of staff that we have in any program at NET,” said Regan Kelly, Division Director, PA Children, Youth & Family Services. “They consistently go above and beyond.” Students are initially identified through a comprehensive student assessment process. “In Tier One, school personnel identify pockets of students and then use the regulations that the school has established to address behaviors. In Tier Two, the Resource Specialist becomes involved. Individualized interventions are put in place, and students are referred to us for school-based social work and case management,” Waiters explained. Resource Specialists carry a minimum caseload of 35; they provide short-term case management, brief intervention and crisis stabilization support, and brief clinically informed counseling supports in the high schools. They also link students and families to behavioral health, mental health and social service agencies; help students and families get medical assistance; and foster a team approach. “We play a big part in helping schools manage the internal climate by creating school-wide resources and programs beyond our contract obligations,” Waiters said. “Our goal is to have an impact on the overall school population.” At Dr. Ethel Allen Promise Academy, Resource Specialist Zenida Driver set up a mentoring program that’s a partnership between Big Brothers Big Sisters and the U.S. District Attorneys’ Office. At Reynolds Elementary School, NET developed a rites of passage mentoring program. It incorporates Universal Design, a multipronged approach that gives every student an equal opportunity to learn. Students develop their writing skills and then go through a rigorous midterm process, during which they take an exam and write and give a speech. (continued on page 5) 2 Honored for Distinguished Performance Employee Recognition Awards “We appreciate exceptional performance and want to honor those who are doing outstanding work at NET,” said Terence McSherry, President and CEO. Whether that work is internal and makes NET run more efficiently or external and supports NET’s vision of being consumer responsive, the result is that “our services to our peers and our clinical activities are much better,” according to McSherry. Congratulations to these NET employees who received Employee Recognition Awards in December. Melvin Reese, Facility Tech Team Leader at NET Steps, began working at NET about two years ago as a tech. “We discovered that he had great computer skills, and he quickly rose to the top. He has leadership abilities and great talent and potential,” said John Carroll, NET Steps Director. “Melvin created a computer system for us; he gathers signature pages from IOP sessions and keys the data into Excel. At 11 p.m., he sends out an e-mail about services provided and who missed meetings and why.” Reese’s previous background in security has also come in handy at NET Steps. “We call on him in touchy situations, and he can assert himself among a difficult population. He is a solid rock who uses his size appropriately,” Carroll said. Peer Specialist John Rocco works with NET consumers primarily at the Spring Garden Counseling Center. In addition, he has served as a spokesperson for NET, including when the White House Drug Czar came to town. “John has represented NET at two national training conferences, where he told the story of our Consumer Council and Peer Specialist programs,” said Joseph Schultz, PA Adult Behavioral Healthcare Division Director. “The conferences focused on the Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care, which is the model we use at NET, and I came through the system on that model,” Rocco explained. “They wanted someone who had been through it to talk about it.” Rocco is also on the advisory board of Philadelphia’s Office of Addiction Services. CET program from which he graduated. “The CET program was a bridge that connected me to a support network and helped me avoid the things that were preventing me from moving on,” Gregory said. “Now, as a Peer Specialist, I do these same things for our consumers. It helps them, and it helps me.” In presenting the award, James Larks, Division Director, Delaware Adult Behavioral Health Services, said, “Anthony is a magnet for the people he works with, who really relate to him. I’m so proud of him.” As a Parent Peer Specialist, Melodie Jackson provides support to parents who are seeking services from NET for their children. She understands the process; her family received support from one such program. “Parents who have experienced the system can provide invaluable support to other parents as they seek services for their child,” said Regan Kelly, Division Director, PA Children, Youth & Family Services. Jackson also co-chairs the NET Parent Advisory Committee, which is open to any parent receiving services from NET. The committee has assisted in updating intake paperwork and other materials given to parents, planned and implemented parent training about psychotropic medication for children, and identified how youth and families could be better supported as they transition from one level of care to another. PLAY BALL! At NET, clients and staff are doing just that. NET Steps has organized its first-ever softball team: the NET Steppers. They play ball one evening a week at 8th and Poplar Streets in a Philadelphia Sport and Social Club league. “A lot of people grew up playing ball and have some good skills, but they haven’t played in a long time,” said NET Steps Counselor Bob Matthews. Back for their second season is NET Resilience, representing PA Adult Behavioral Health Services and playing in the Philadelphia Anthony Gregory had 31 admissions to Kirkwood Detoxification Center in five years and was in their Consumer Engagement and Transition Program four times. Now, he’s employed full-time as a Peer Specialist in the C.A.R.E. Recovery League. NET’s Consumer Council is responsible for the team’s creation. Peer Specialist Susan Hamlin is the team manager; games are played on Saturdays. A Newsletter For NET Staff, Clients, and Friends Open Hearts, Open Homes Meet three of the many NET alumni who have started Recovery Houses Hands of Diversity: Nate Green My inspiration: I was blessed with the opportunity to relocate to Philadelphia, where I entered a Recovery House not knowing what it was about. I realized it was probably my last chance at life. I was introduced to the NET. I listened to others who had changed their lives and began the process of recovery. I am now a productive member of society. How it grew: After going from job to job, I received a lawsuit settlement in 2003. I invested that money in my first house, with 10 beds for men. I’ve expanded to 50 beds. I had a dream of running my own Recovery House because of the things I saw that could have been better. Our program addresses mental, physical, spiritual, and financial stability. We don’t accept excuses or tolerate using. We promote hope and direction. is mandatory for those who don’t have one. We enroll participants in job training programs, etc. I want participants to be able to survive on their own. What I learned from NET: To give people a second chance and to believe that everyone has the potential to achieve. Joe Schultz had a vision: to use people who graduated from and benefitted from the program to reach back and help people who were in the same position that we once were. The Peer Specialist idea works; I have benefited from it and so have others. Joe allowed me to work at NET, which is a blessing because I am using what I learned to help others achieve a life of sobriety. “The concept of giving back to the community is ingrained in NET’s programs, and these alumni are doing just that. They have become an influential Our services: We provide a safe, positive, unified, productive, force in their neighborhoods and are billboards and family-oriented atmosphere with rules and regulations that give structure. We offer people the opportunity to refocus their lives, with help from the 12 Steps and clinical treatment from the NET. We do four outings a year as a family: a block party, bowling, Dorney Park and an honorary dinner. These events show people they don’t need drugs or alcohol to have a good time. for what is possible.” – Sonya Mendelovich, Director, What I’m most proud of: Our Intake house was once the drug house for a five-block radius. We no longer allow that. The area is now drug-free – no violence, no selling drugs on the corner. We accomplished this without assistance from the city or the state. Also, from 2008 to the present, our clients have had the highest completion rate at the NET. The program is highly successful; these individuals are still clean and active in their communities. People About Change: Sheila Sanders My passion: To help people recover in a caring atmosphere. After completing my own program in 2005, I realized that I needed a place to continue my recovery and, more importantly, to move on with my life. At the time I was 11 months clean. I had no intentions of it being a business. But my brother, realizing that I had a dream worth investing in, bought another location. Within a month’s time we filled up the house and I was in need of more room. My approach: I believe in unconditional love. Fish swim, birds fly, and addicts get high. There will always be struggles, ups and downs, but the people who come through my program who really want to change aren’t turned away, even if they relapse. Instead, I try to find another level of care to get them back on track. We make sure they leave our program with something they didn’t come in with: a GED Wharton Residential Center The Gibson Foundation: Sean Leslie My inspiration: I had been through a lot of processes to get sober. What finally worked for me well was structured living. I fell in with new friends, and that was it. There’s good therapeutic value in this. The late Charles Johnson and I were clients at the same Recovery House, and we thought we could offer different quality services. How we grew: We started out small in 2001 with one house that had three beds for women. We soon found out that if you make a nice place for people where they can concentrate on getting better, they’ll flourish. If you put money back into it, you make it a high-quality place. We now have 98 beds in seven facilities, all in the 19134 and 19124 ZIP codes. We became a nonprofit in 2004. My experience at NET: I graduated in 1999. NET provided me outpatient treatment to get a foundation of recovery, along with AA. I still make meetings today. My approach: Clients have to go to intensive outpatient, NA and AA meetings. They have a curfew, congregate and eat together, and are required to do chores. This kind of back-to-basics approach helps people get better. It makes me proud to offer safe shelter so people can do the work they need to do. They can concentrate on recovering and don’t have to worry about where they will eat and sleep. They can just focus on getting better. 3 4 To Your Health! n Time to Quit Smoking? Free & Clear’s Quit For Life® Program, offered in collaboration with the American Cancer Society, has helped more than 1 million smokers make a plan to quit smoking, thanks to a great support system and innovative ideas. NET is pleased to offer this wellness program at no cost to employees and their dependents who are enrolled in our medical plan. There is no penalty if you participate and do not succeed. Of course, we WANT you to succeed! You should be aware that there may be a differential in the health insurance premium next year for smokers. In the Quit for Life program, you’ll be matched with a highly trained Quit Coach, a former smoker, who will work with you by phone. Your coach will help you develop a personalized plan for quitting; provide guidance in choosing medicines; and give ongoing follow-up support. The phone coaching is integrated with a web-based program that includes a personalized and private home page, reminders, helpful information and community support. n R aising Awareness for Mental Health During May – Mental Health Month – sponsor Mental Health America worked to raise awareness about the one in four American adults who live with a diagnosable, treatable mental health condition. “While mental health and substance use conditions are common, they are extremely treatable, and individuals can go on to recover and lead full and productive lives,” said David Shern, Ph.D., president and CEO of Mental Health America. According to Shern, too many people never seek or receive help due to stigma, cost, inadequate information, and lack of health insurance coverage. “We need to change that,” he said. “It’s important that everyone has access to treatment and services because we have a tremendous amount of knowledge about how to identify, treat and even prevent mental health conditions.” One in Four Mental Health Month was launched more than 50 years ago by MHA, whose mission is to “enable access to quality behavioral health services for all Americans.” NET is proud to have provided quality behavioral health services for the last 40 of those 50 years, since our founding in 1970. n D estination: You With the launch of Destination: You a few months ago, we gave staff members an enjoyable and effective way to monitor their fitness. Approximately 150 full and part-time employees attached a SmartMeter to their shoes and started counting their steps. Participants have described it as fun, eye-opening (“I didn’t know how sedentary I was”) and motivating (“I’m walking instead of driving whenever possible”). Since then, we’ve had four company-wide challenges open to anyone with a SmartMeter. Korinne Yannone, Foster Care Office Manager, is a two-time winner. She admits she doesn’t drive, which gives her a foot up on most of her competitors, but “I also started getting off the bus a stop or two earlier so I’d get more steps in, and I walk to and from the gym,” she said. Bonnie Wright, Clinical Supervisor, PA Adult Behavioral Health Services, won the third challenge, and Jeanne Lehrer, Unit Director, PA Children’s Behavioral Health, won for being the first person to get to 150,000 Steps. Judy Durnall, Data Coordinator at Kirkwood Detoxification Center, said, “We had a weeklong challenge and I walked 77,304 steps. I walked in the morning and I walked at night. To be honest, I didn’t think I would win, but I didn’t want to be last. But guess what? This old girl – I’m 61 – won the individual challenge! I’m enjoying this so much.” Interested in getting a SmartMeter and joining the walking program that employees are giving rave reviews? Just ask the “champion” at your work site. n WageWorks - A Commuter Benefits Program In July, NET will launch WageWorks, a commuter benefits program that lets you pay all or part of your commuting expenses with pre-tax dollars, saving you up to 40% on the cost of your commute. The WageWorks Commuter Card works just like a credit card; funds are added to the card electronically each month and can be used to pay for: •m ass transit fares (buses, trains, para-transit vans) • v anpool fees (carrying 6 or more adult passengers, excluding the driver) •p arking fees at or near your workplace •p arking fees at a location from which you commute to your work place via mass transportation or a carpool (park and ride lot) When you sign up for WageWorks, you can determine the dollar amount you would like to contribute; up to $230 for transit and up to $230 for parking can be deducted pre-tax from your paycheck per month. A Newsletter For NET Staff, Clients, and Friends 5 Making My Way: From Foster Care to Independent Living Making My Way, an Independent Living Program, helps youth who are aging out of the Delaware foster care system to become self-sufficient and responsible adults. It is one of several programs offered by NET’s Delaware Youth & Family Services Division. Young people in foster care who are at least 16 years old can be referred to the program by their caseworker for mentoring and training in life skills and personal development. “We are almost 100 percent community-based. Mostly we go to the youth to provide one-on-one mentoring and link them up with resources,” said Susan Dougherty, Program Director. NET is contracted to serve 50-70 youth but currently works with about 100. “Most of the young people are still in foster care, while others live on their own in independent housing programs,” Dougherty said. “At least 10 are over 21, and we have people as old as 26 calling us for support.” Services are provided by a team of four Independent Living Coordinators: Pam Richards, Antoine Warren, Angely Morales, and Dougherty herself. Along with caseworkers, Independent Living Coordinators determine if the young person has an appropriate educational goal for high school and then helps with college applications, enrollment and financial aid. “Through NET, we also monitor a scholarship for kids in foster care,” Dougherty explained. The team helps young people secure summer employment through a relationship with New Castle County Community Services or guides them through a traditional job search. Making My Way runs an employment workshop, in which young people are taught how to dress for an interview and how to best represent themselves. In an initiative established by Deutsche Bank, Antoine Warren teaches a financial fitness class, where youth learn how to budget and manage their money. After they complete the eight-hour training, they can open an account at a local bank – to buy a car, rent an apartment, etc. – and Deutsche Bank will match their deposit. “Even more important than the skills we teach is the emotional support we provide,” said Dougherty, “We’ve had no turnover in staff in our entire 12 years. The kids know us and will call us before it’s too late. We believe in these kids. Most people don’t talk to them about college. Our focus is that they go.” Dougherty formerly worked in long-term foster care. “We used to discharge these kids at 18 and not have any idea how they did. We knew there was a lot of homelessness, incarceration, drug use, and babies being born. Among the youth in our program, we aren’t seeing criminal behavior. College enrollment is way up,” she said. NET is one of two agencies in New Castle, DE, that is contracted to provide independent living services. While other counties have switched providers, NET is the only program in the state that is an initial contractor. “My staff works tireless hours, and in my conversations with the administrators in control at the Division of Family Services (our contract holder), they have nothing but positive things to say about our staff and our program and the work we do,” said Dr. Suziliene Board, Director, NET Delaware Youth & Family Programs. Dougherty and her team find their work very satisfying. “The program is voluntary; kids don’t have to participate. But when they do, we get to be an advocate for them,” she said. “The four of us witness unbelievable growth as we work with these young people from ages 16 to 22. That long-term connection is very special.” Making My Way’s Independent Living Coordinators (from left): Antoine Warren, Pam Richards, Angely Morales, and Susan Dougherty, who is also Program Manager. Making a Difference in Philadelphia’s Schools At Kelly School, Resource Specialist Richard Harrell designed Aim for the NET, a program that organizes in-school basketball games to facilitate proper behavior. Teachers provide Resource Specialists with behavior charts specific to the program and attendance sheets that report who comes to tutoring. If they meet the requirements, students can participate in the program. “A student in the mentoring program at one of our SBSS elementary schools lost his glasses, and two months later he was still without them,” recalled Waiters. “With the program mentors we went to his home and found out that his Grandmom was overwhelmed and his (continued from page 1) parents weren’t playing an active role. We took him to get glasses. The grandmother, the child, and the school all felt this small gesture, and this young man, who had been considered one of the worst students, was the only student in the entire program to get a perfect score on his projects.” “These are the kinds of things that make a difference. You have to teach children how to be passionate about education and show that you’re as passionate about their education as they should be. I believe all kids want to learn,” Waiters said. News & Notes 6 From Our Employees Promotions, Celebrations & Awards ShaR’on Nichols has been promoted to Program Supervisor of FamilyFocused Behavioral Health. “She was one of the first therapists hired when the program was launched in August 2005 and worked for many years as its Lead Clinician. She’s made major contributions to the program’s ongoing success,” said Regan Kelly, Children, Youth & Family Services Division Director. In her new position, which she assumed in October 2010, Nichols supervises treatment teams and is responsible for administrative duties. “I particularly enjoy the way NET promotes resiliency among our clients and our very client-centered approach to treatment,” she said. AnneMarie Stinson, Billing Manager, celebrated her 20th anniversary with NET in March and was honored for this milestone at the board meeting. “AnneMarie has worked closely with operating departments to significantly reduce our rate of bad debt. She’s mastered the billing requirements of multiple payers, which is no easy task,” said Jonathan Solomons, NET’s Chief Financial Officer. “This mastery has helped us improve our collection rate by at least 20 percent over the past 10 years.” In March, NET’s Board of Directors presented Patrick Nelligan, Senior IT Technical Specialist, with the Employee Improvement Award for customer service in the IT Department. Pat joined NET about a year ago and is the newest member of the IT team. “In this short time, Pat has proven himself to be an impact player with great consumer service skills; he also has good rapport with staff,” said Jake Margerum, NET’s Director of Information Technology. WELCOME TO NET... Harry Allen joined NET last August as Assistant Unit Director of Behavioral Health. He’s responsible for oversight of School Therapeutic Services and Behavioral Health Rehabilitation Services (or Wraparound) and brings more than 20 years of experience to NET. “I enjoy the collaboration with the individual schools, because each school is different, just like each family is different,” he said. Denine Price was recently hired as a Supervisor in Foster Care. Denine has previous experience in foster care and has worked as a supervisor at other social service agencies. “Along with program manager Beverly Wells, Denine has been pivotal in strengthening our case management services,” said Eboney Kraisoraphong, Unit Director of Child Welfare Services. Did You Know? “The Value of Family,” the mural that graces the side of NET’s Spring Garden Street location, is one of the highlights on the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program’s Center City Trolley Tour. THAT’S DEDICATION! Experience counts, and the Juvenile Justice and Prevention team has a lot of it. The following employees recently reached significant employment milestones: 5 Years: Agnes Butler, Adanma Igbokwe, Sean Kellam-Brown, Chinyelu Levy, Gregory Smith, James Smith, Jacob Witcher 10 Years: Kenneth Attaway, Alexandra Rivera 12 Years: Teresamarie Morris 15 Years: Carl Williams “Employment longevity has given the staff the opportunity to see their goals and ideas developed, nurtured and reached,” said Jennifer Herrmann, Juvenile Justice Unit Director. “Most importantly, they have built relationships that have benefited each other and the children they serve. I’m surrounded by a team that knows our history, our struggles and our successes; I’m proud to be a part of it and hopeful that this list will continue to grow!” , BABIES R US Kellyann Campbell, Care Manager in Philadelphia Behavioral Health, is happy to announce the birth of her first son, Brennan Gary Porreca, on Feb.10. Taisha Melendez welcomed Eliana Melendez (her fourth child), on Jan. 18, and Kellie Traynor gave birth to her second child, Bryce David Martin, on March 24. Both women are Case Managers at In-Home Protective Services. Melinda Kaufman, Supervisor at Henry House, is expecting her first child – a son – on June 4. She is planning to work until the day before! A Newsletter For NET Staff, Clients, and Friends Preparing for CARF In September 2008, NET was awarded a three-year accreditation by CARF (the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) for its programs in Behavioral Health, Opioid Treatment, and Children and Youth Services. Later this summer, CARF’s team will return to NET to review policies and procedures for reaccreditation. While the survey is completed every three years, “accreditation is an evolving process that requires ongoing monitoring,” explained James Larks, NET’s Director of Performance Improvement. “We participate in CARF activities in everything we do.” Larks is currently helping staff prepare for the upcoming survey process. “We chose CARF accreditation because of the agency’s consultative approach; they work with us as peers instead of taking an inspector-type approach where they are looking to find faults, deficiencies and errors,” he said. Larks has joined CARF as an administrator and program surveyor. In that role, he travels throughout the United States and Canada to evaluate other programs. He is proud of the CARF stamp of approval. “Accreditation from an internationally renowned organization lets our stakeholders know that we have achieved quality results and that we are poised to continue to do so,” he said. “It also shows that we are true to our slogan of putting people first.” New Name, Same Mission CAPE: It’s a Good Bet In Jan. 2010, NET acquired Riverside Care, a provider of outpatient substance abuse treatment in Philadelphia, Easton and Bethlehem. “We knew from the start that these two organizations could enhance the reach and effectiveness of each other,” said Terence McSherry, NET President and CEO. Until now, the two companies have maintained separate corporate identities, but on July 1, they will officially merge. CAPE’s annual Auction and Casino Night was held this year on April 29 at Bridgemen’s Hall. Concrete Cutting Systems and its owner, David Nevrotski, were honored for their generous, longtime support of CAPE, which included collecting, building and donating 75 bicycles to the 2010 Toy Truck Parade. “Soon after the acquisition, NET and Riverside blended operationally. Now we are completely unified, and staff are assigned back and forth between existing sites,” McSherry explained. “When the boards of each organization saw that there was no longer a reason for the continuing separation, they authorized the chairman and CEO to effect a merger. In the Lehigh Valley, the centers will continue to do business as the NET-Riverside Easton and NET-Riverside Bethlehem Counseling Centers. In Philadelphia, they will operate as the NET North and NET West Counseling Centers, under the direction of Joseph Schultz. “The two Philadelphia sites are very busy, and we anticipate that the size of the programs will increase by one-third next year,” McSherry said. About 140 guests enjoyed the buffet dinner, casino games, and silent and live auctions, whose proceeds benefit CAPE’s Emergency Family Fund and Community Education Program. “Thanks to the efforts and generosity of area businesses, individuals, board members, and NET staff, we raised over $8,000 from the event,” said Karla Eyre, CAPE’s Director of Operations. Getting ready for the auction. From left: Pat Nelligan, NET Senior IT Technical Specialist, and Andee Silverman, volunteer, with Karla Eyre and Pat Devlin of CAPE. After four months of planning and collaboration, NET launched its brand new website on May 4. It has a fresh design, a more user-friendly format, new feature articles about NET, and an updated interactive map. The address remains the same: www.net-centers.org. Please “stop by” for a visit. 7 PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #117 SOUTHEASTERN PA 19399 www.net-centers.org Administrative Offices 499 N. 5th Street, Suite A Philadelphia, PA 19123 A Newsletter For NET Staff, Clients, and Friends 8 Phillies’ Dickie Noles Makes a Pitch for Recover y Former Phillies pitcher Dickie Noles, a member of the 1980 World Series championship team, has been speaking publicly about his substance abuse and recovery for close to 30 years – since he derailed his baseball career by getting into a drunken post-game brawl, landing in jail, injuring his knee, and spending a good part of his baseball earnings on a civil lawsuit. On May 25, Noles shared his inspiring story at NET’s 4th Annual Recovery Recognition Banquet, held in Port Richmond. About 300 people attended the event, which is organized by NET’s Consumer Council as a celebration of the recovery progress and service activities of NET clients. Noles is back on the Phillies’ team as their Employee Assistance Professional. He also works with Major League Baseball, traveling to minor league games around the country and talking to young players “about what life can be.” His focus is proactive rather than reactive; his talks more about the do’s than the don’ts. Other guest speakers included Roland Lamb, Director of the Office of Addiction Services, and Arthur C. Evans Jr., Director of Philadelphia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Mental Retardation Services (DBH/MRS). Both men have embraced grassroots recovery movements and been instrumental in helping the city make sweeping changes in how it deals with behavioral health. To participate in the Recognition Day event, NET Persons in Recovery (PIRs) must have a good attendance record and actively participate in their group meetings. They must also complete a group service project that gives back to the community. They are then selected by their peers to attend the banquet. “Some groups made sandwiches and gave them out to homeless people; others organized coat and blanket drives. One group helped someone whose house burned down,” said Sonya Mendelovich, Director of Wharton Residential Center. Among the awards given were the Charles Johnson Memorial Award to “a person who makes a significant impact on others in recovery,” and the Spirit of Recovery Award, “to someone who personifies the notion of giving back to the community and being a generous supporter of others in recovery,” Mendelovich explained. Recovery Recognition Certificates were presented to Persons in Recovery as an acknowledgement of their personal commitment to the recovery process. Award winners will be featured in the next issue of the NETWorks newsletter.